Under the Carer’s Leave Act, 2001 the minimum statutory entitlement to carer’s leave is 13 weeks. If an employee apply for a period of carer’s leave which is less than 13 weeks’ duration, the employer may refuse (on reasonable grounds) to allow the employee to take less than 13 weeks’ carer’s leave. Where the employer refuses this leave, he or she must specify in writing to the employee the grounds for refusing the leave.
If an employee requests more than 13 weeks, the employers cannot refuse the leave. The request will be reviewed by the Department of Social Protection.